SUPREME COURT GRANTS TWO-YEAR CHILDCARE LEAVE AS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT FOR WOMEN

In a significant ruling led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, the Supreme Court declared that two-year childcare leave, in addition to mandatory maternity leave, is a constitutional right for women employees. The decision followed a plea by Shalini Dharmani, a Himachal Pradesh assistant professor and mother of a child with special needs, who was denied childcare leave by the state government. The court emphasized that denying such leave forces women to quit their jobs and infringes on their constitutional right to participate in the workforce. The ruling also directed the state to establish a committee to review policies related to childcare leave.